Monthly Archives: November 2016

Emulsion Removal is Part 5 of a five part series (that includes Coating a Screen, Exposing/Developing a Screen, Blocking Out a Screen and Ink Removal). This demo targets the tips and method on how to remove the stencil from the screen frame after you’ve completed a project. And, you’re going to be wildly happy with the result.

Emulsion Removal Tools

ERG8550L that is a ready-to-use Emulsion Remover. It rapidly removes emulsion and capillary film from screens, offers excellent freeze/thaw characteristics and is ideal for use in all climates.

A RhinoCleanWashout Booth that is available in a variety of standard sizes. Its compact, space saving design and durable construction in Polypro continues to be the foremost choice for screen printers.

The RS1500APressure Washer that features a 26” hose, 250 – 1500 PSI, an adjustable nozzle, 110V and ground fault plug. It weighs just 60 lbs. in a very compact form and is a powerhouse of a system that just keeps on working, year after year after year.

TECHNIQUE

Emulsion Removal and a whole lot of other screen cleaning products.

Apply ERG8550L Emulsion Remover to scrubber and scrub on both sides of screen.

Once applied, the stencil will begin to break down almost immediately.

After scrubbing, let the product sit for 1 – 2 minutes. Now, power wash (we use the RS1500A).

In a smooth motion, continue to sweep pressure washer back and forth across the screen and experience the excitement of a new-looking screen frame coming into view!

Next, let screen dry in a Screen Drying Cabinet (and, we have many to choose from). Once, dry you’re ready to reuse. It’s that simple.

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Thanks for watching this and all of our other videos. We hope we have helped you lighten the load and advance your screen cleaning technique. Questions? We’re here for you at 651-686-5027 x 4 or info@rhinotechinc.com.

INK REMOVAL. On-Press. Not something we generally like to do, but a necessary step when a color change or ink smear has to be corrected. Here’s the 411 on how-to finesse the ink off the screen frame for an on-press ink change and a demo on the easiest way to remove ink from the screen at the conclusion of printing.

FIRST UP. ON-PRESS Ink Removal Steps

Start with PWG122 Press Wash that has been designed to rapidly flash off the screen so that you can quickly and easily make an ON-PRESS ink change.

Next, lift the printer arm holding the screen frame that you want to make the color change on so that you are looking at the underside of the screen frame.

Using a paper or cloth towel, squirt some press wash onto the cloth. Working from the underside of the screen, wipe the targeted spot until ink is removed.

Then, lift the screen and if it still seems to need a little more work, use cloth to carefully finish wiping from the squeegee side.

Squirt the screen wash onto the screen and begin scrubbing. Scrub on both sides. Very quickly, the ink will begin to emulsify.

Ink Removal from the screen.

With a pressure washer, like the amazing RS1500A, rinse the screen on both sides. To get rid of any residue, apply a bit more SWG145C, scrub and rinse. If you prefer a soy-based product, choose SWG305.

Blockout a Screen Frame and you’ve mastered an essential part of screen printing.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

To Blockout a screen, the necessary tools include the screen frame that we previously exposed and developed, RB203 that is a thick product and water-soluble. It is a perfect choice to use on coarser mesh counts. For finer mesh counts, the choice is RB202 that is a thinner product. And, for an absolutely permanent blockout, the choice is RB201.

RB203 Thick Blockout

As a side note, we used the BL1620 Exposure Unit w/backlight.

STEPS TO BLOCKING OUT A SCREEN FRAME

Puddle blockout in the corner of the frame. With the trusty yellow squeegee, spread the product around the edge of the frame. This is important to ensure that all pinholes from dust are covered.

NOTE: RB203 is water-soluble making it easy to wash off the screen. And, the backlight on the Exposure System makes it easy to see where light is potentially seeping through, so you can cover those areas/spots, easily.

Work carefully, though, to make sure that you don’t get any of the blockout on the image.

Let the screen dry.

DOUBLE SECURITY

When the screen is dry, use regular packing tape to tape out around the inside edge of the backside (squeegee side) of the frame. This will ensure that when you print, no ink will get squished between the mesh and the frame.

And, that’s it!

As always, thanks for taking the time to view this demo. If you have questions, please contact us directly at 651-686-5027 x 4 or info@rhinotechinc.com.

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Exposing and Developing a Screen Frame is a vital part of the screen printing process. In this step-by-step instructional video (that follows Part 1 – Coating Screens 101A), you’ll be energized with the tips and technique to simply achieve this necessary step. To begin with, note that we are using a BL1620 Exposure Unit with UV Black lights. It has a simple on/off switch that, in combination with using the timer application on your phone, will enable you to perfect how to expose and develop a screen frame with finesse.

Exposing and developing a screen frame begins with an Exposure system.

EXPOSING and DEVELOPING the SCREEN FRAME. The first step:

The first step is to have your artwork ready. We printed our artwork onto RhinoJet Film PositiveMaterial using an Epson 1430 inkjet printer. We used this water-proof clear film material, because it offers a very dense film positive helping to ensure that no light will penetrate the blacked out area.

Add a pressure plate to ensure good contact. We use one that is made of melamine board with foam (foam side down) to ensure that the film is tight against the screen. And, as you can see in the video, we topped it with a few gallons of RhinoMite Screen Frame Adhesive to secure it even more so.

Turn Exposure System on.

We know that it will take a 4-minute exposure, because of previous test results. So…always test with a film positive that has been pre-made for you using different filters. This will help you narrow down variables due to type of Exposure System and type of emulsion you’re using.

Once the screen is exposed, retrieve the screen frame and get ready to begin the Developing Process.

DEVELOPING the SCREEN FRAME:

The first step in the DEVELOPING process is to move to the RhinoClean Washout Booth. Place screen in the booth and wet screen on both sides.

Next, set Pressure Washer to wide fan with low pressure (easily done with the RS 1500A) and with a smooth motion, continue to wash frame – notice we’re working on the non-squeegee side of frame. Be sure to flip frame and continue washing the other side.

Watch the design appear.

And, that’s it and that simple. Now, let the screen dry before you begin to block out the frame. And, because there are a few ways to do that, please watch the next video, Part 3 in the series, Blocking out a Screen Frame – 101A.

Thanks for watching our video tutorials. The RhinoTech Team appreciates your interst and looks forward to helping you be wildly successful or even more so.

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To Coat a Screen Frame takes a bit of finesse that is easily learned. This video step-by-step will show you the ropes and help you easily and quickly learn the steps to handling a scoop coater during the process of coating a screen frame.

Really appreciate you watching our demo on how to coat a screen frame. If you need more info and have questions, please contact us at 651-686-5027 x 4 ORinfo@rhinotechinc.com. We look forward to working with you.

We know that you know that. And, for all time, it’s been a time consuming process with many steps that include: creating a film positive, applying emulsion or using capillary film, exposing the screen, developing the screen and then letting the screen frame dry.

But, now, there’s a new and improved method to create a stencil with RhinoScreen™ 2.0 Dry Stencil Film. This process has literally revolutionized stencil-making. And, created a whole big crowd of happier screen printers who are liking this new, 2-step method that eliminatesthe need for a film positive, emulsion, capillary film, exposure and drying time. The image on the right was created with this latest system.

Once completed, we began the screen printing process. This is what we did next:

Final result – a Tee with added dimension, a pop of color and appeal (for the customer) and a higher price point for the business owner.

Screen printed Tee using new stencil-making system.

Advantages of this Dry Stencil Film:

Elimination of extra products and time needs.

Money and time saved.

Reduced inventory space requirements.

Affordability that improves the business owners profit-margins.

Responds to needs for safer/enviro-sensitive products in our industry.

Used paper is free of BPA and Phthalates, contain no organic pollutants, such as PFOS and PVC materials or organotin that are powerful biocides and fungicide.

Used paper is recyclable as it contains no silicone.

For a complete, step-by-step video of this cool system, please click HERE.

For more info and to get your questions answered, please contact our Customer Service Specialist at 651-686-5027 x 4 or info@rhinotechinc.com. Let’s work together and help you be wildly successful or even more so.